Image Forming Apparatus Using Composite Symbols for Adaptive Information Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printed materials are insufficient as they cannot adapt to display information suitable for varying situations, lacking the ability to change based on conditions.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that uses a combination of first and second printers with different materials, where the first printer prints a machine-readable symbol with first information and the second printer prints a symbol that becomes invisible under specific conditions, creating a composite symbol with second information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional printed materials use fixed, predetermined information, then manufacturing is simple and reliable, but adaptability to different situations is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The printed material is segmented into multiple information layers: a first symbol containing first information, and a second symbol containing second information. These segments can be independently read or combined, allowing the system to adapt to different situations by selecting which segments to process, thereby improving adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite symbol technology where a first symbol and second symbol are combined on the same printed material. The first symbol uses conventional visible materials while the second symbol uses invisible or less visible materials. This composite approach enables the material to convey different information under different conditions, significantly improving adaptability while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes.
2Loss of information
If printed materials display only predetermined information, then the structure is simple, but the ability to provide situation-appropriate information is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-encodes multiple information sets (first information in the first symbol, second information in the second symbol) onto the printed material in advance. Depending on the situation, different information sets can be activated or read, ensuring that the appropriate information is available without requiring complex real-time processing or additional materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs visible and invisible symbol technology where the second symbol can be invisible or less visible under certain conditions. This allows the printed material to effectively display different information based on viewing conditions or processing methods, reducing information loss while maintaining relatively simple structural complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If a single symbol is printed on the medium, then the printing process is simple, but the capability to convey multiple types of information is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The information is segmented into first information (visible in the first symbol) and second information (visible in the second symbol). This segmentation allows multiple types of information to be conveyed on a single printed material without requiring multiple separate printing operations, as both symbols can be printed in sequence using the same printing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite symbol technology where both the first symbol and second symbol are printed on the same medium. The first symbol uses conventional visible materials while the second symbol uses invisible or less visible materials. This approach enables the printing process to convey multiple types of information (increasing information quantity) while maintaining efficient printing operations (preserving productivity).
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables printed materials to display different information based on conditions, allowing for adaptive and context-dependent content display.
Implementation Method 1
a second printer configured to print on the medium using a second material that turns invisible when a first condition is satisfied
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a first printer configured to print on a medium using a first material, a second printer configured to print on the medium using a second material that turns invisible when a first condition is satisfied, and a controller configured to: control the first printer to print on the medium a first symbol that is machine-readable and associated with first information, and control the second printer to print a second symbol on the medium on which the first symbol has been printed. A composite symbol of the first and second symbols is machine-readable and associated with second information different from the first information.